In Krasnoyarsk, a criminal case was opened against two traffic police lieutenants on charges of abuse of power. The officials allegedly compelled a sleeping car owner to take the wheel and then detained him for drunk driving. Telegram channel Baza reported on the developments.
According to the report, mid-June 2023 brought a disturbance when police received a call about a car obstructing the roadway. Arriving at the scene, the traffic police found the BMW owner asleep in the backseat. They approached him and asked a passerby to wake him and move the vehicle. When the driver finally sat behind the wheel and began to move, he was intercepted, removed from operation, and subjected to a medical examination. The test indicated that the man was intoxicated at the time.
Subsequently, authorities filed a criminal case against the detained driver for repeat driving while intoxicated. However, after several months, information about the incident reached the internal security department. As a consequence, a new criminal case was opened against the traffic police officers themselves for abuse of power. The possible penalties for such a crime range from three to ten years of imprisonment.
In a separate note, reports from the Leningrad region mentioned two men who beat a third person over a Toyota Camry parked on the grass. The incident highlights broader concerns about how road safety enforcement can cross the line into coercive or unlawful actions when authority is exercised in tense situations. While the specifics of each case differ, the common thread remains clear: law enforcement officers are expected to uphold the law and protect citizens, not to circumvent due process or manipulate circumstances to justify punitive measures.
The Krasnoyarsk case underscores ongoing debates about accountability, oversight, and the mechanisms that ensure integrity within the police force. Observers note that independent inquiries and robust internal investigations are essential to maintaining public trust, especially in situations where use of force or coercion might be perceived as exceeding legal bounds. The outcome of these proceedings will likely influence how such allegations are handled in the region and could prompt policy reviews aimed at strengthening checks and balances for frontline officers.